The Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) are a specially organized collection of thousands of full text sources on almost 400 cultures worldwide. HRAF can be useful for anyone looking for background information or specific data on a particular ethnic group, culture or country, as well as by those investigating subjects like architecture, kinship, political structure or settlement patterns on a comparative cross-cultural basis.

HRAF is available at the WSU Libraries online:

HRAF is also available on microfiche in the Reference section of the Holland and Terrell Library.

This guide applies mainly to HRAF World Cultures. If you have questions about HRAF Archaeology, please contact Erica Nicol.

The HRAF Microfiche is located on the first floor in the Terrell Library. A microfiche reader is located next to the HRAF microfiche files for your use.

The following online guides are illustrated and especially helpful when learning to read the HRAF microfiche:

• Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) Research Guide (Boston University Libraries)
• Guide to the Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) in Print and Microfiche (Library of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne)

On top of the cabinet that holds the HRAF microfiche, you will also find copies of the following:

Sources simply reproduced by HRAF (primarily English language monographs) can be cited as if the information were found directly in those sources (HRAF need not be mentioned). If HRAF sources are used heavily in research for a publication, however, authors sometimes mention that fact in a note.

Citations for sources translated for HRAF should contain translation information (e.g. "Translated for the Human Relations Area Files by M. E. Fontaine, 1989").

If using a source directly from the eHRAF database, follow the guidelines for sources from databases provided by chosen citation style. You may want to refer to the WSU Libraries' online Citation Help page if you have questions.